With oil prices reaching $105 a barrel for the first time since 2008, the biofuel industry is looking more attractive every day. As global demand rises and petroleum supplies diminish, countries are turning to algae for energy security.

This technology requires very good levels of sunshine to work economically. Efforts were originally made to culture algae in the open but it was found that the oil producing algae were overwhelmed by other, less suitable, species. The production process had to be moved to a confined system under glass. This adds considerably to the cost and means that it would be difficult to get the system to work in northern latitudes with lower levels of insolation.

Greece might be OK but the UK would find it hard work. It might be possible to get it to work in conjunction with a power station using the cooling water to heat the algae and the flue gasses as a feed._________________BLOG

"When the last tree is cut down, and the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find out that you cannot eat money". --The Cree Indians

I am not saying that algae biofuels could be feasibly produced during the next year. But till 2020 it is quite likely. Why not for UK too. It is a matter of applied, focused research. In 1995, who believed actually that algae could be an energy source?

And yes, the best way is to combine the algae cultivation with a carbon dioxide source.